Measuring device.



No. 650,879. Patented'lune 5, i900.

J. A. TRAUT.

ull-:Asurmm nEvlcE.

(Application led Jan. 5, 1900.)

NITED STATES Jusrus A. TRAU'T, or Naw BRITAIN, CoNNECrICUr.

MEASURING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 650,879, dated J' une 5, 1900.

Application filed January 5, 1900. Serial No. 426. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JUsTUs A. TRAUT., a citizen of the United States, residing in New Britain, in the County of Hartfordand State rof Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Measuring Devices, of which' the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rules or measuring devices of similar character, and particularly to the tips for capping or protecting the ends thereof. I'Ieret'ofore in this class of devices these tips have been formed of channeled U -shaped pieces of comparativelyheavy metal, which pieces have been secured by rivets to the ends of the rule, therefore requiring additional labor and expense in drilling the tips and also the body of the rule for the reception of the rivets. Furthermore, the ends of the rivets when headed down always have to be yfiled off to make them flush with the surface ofthe tip, and in riveting there is great danger of splitting the rule, caused by the tendency of the stem or body of the rivet to bend or flex under the riveting operation. In this well-known manner of securing tips the rivets frequently work out or become loosened, and the cap or tip consequently is detached from the rule. My invention is intended to obviate all of these diiculties, and the object thereof is to provide a tip formed of a blank of light sheet metal, said tip being bent to the desired shape necessary to cap the end of the rule and being provided at its free edges with a series of points, spurs, or teeth which when the tip is compressed in any suitable manner upon the end of the rule will enter the material thereof, and thereby firmly retain the tip in proper position. These points, spurs, or teeth are preferably made integral with the tip and may be of any desired form suitable for the purpose, and when the tip after being placed on the end of the rule is compressed said points, spurs, or teeth will, as stated, enter the material thereof, and the body of the tip will be substantially flush with the outer surface of the rule.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part4 of this specification, Figure l is a plan view of a common form of rule, showing my invention applied to the ends thereof. Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, showing the manner in which the pins, spurs, or teeth enter the material of the rule when the tip has been compressed upon the end thereof. Fig. 4 is a side-elevation, on an enlarged scale, showing my improved tip placed upon the end of the rule and in readiness to be compressed to cause the points, spurs, or teeth to enter the material of the rule, as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is aside elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the rule, showing the tip compressed and in place. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of my improved tip, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 7 is a view,

'on an enlarged scale, of a sheet-metal blank from which the tip illustrated in Fig. 6 Inay be formed. Fig. 8. is a view, partially in section, also on an enlarged scale, showing a rule of slightly-different form to which my invention is applied.

Similar characters of reference designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Vthe numeral 5 indicates a rule made of any suitable material, usually of wood, to which myinvention is applied. This rule is shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, of the drawings equipped with tenoned or reduced ends, these forming a seat for the side portions of the cap or tip hereinafter described.

The numeral 7 designates my improved cap or tip, and 8 the sheet-metal blank from which said cap or tip is made. This blank is provided with a series of points, spurs, or teeth 9 and may readily be produced at one operation in a stamping or punching press having a die of the desired form and may also, if desired, be bent to the form shown in Fig. 6, or a similar form, at the time it is produced. The tip is ofchanneled or box-like form and as represented in Fig. 6, is provided with side portions 7 7' of the Width of the rule to which it is to be applied, with aback 72 adapted to protect the extreme end of the rule and with a series of downwardly-projecting points, spurs, or teeth 9 of any desired form.

As above stated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the rule is shown provided with a tenoned end 6, having shoulders 6', and when a tip is IOO to he applied to this form of rule it is slipped over the tenoned end thereof, with the pins, spurs, or teeth in contact with the end walls of the shoulders 6', as shown in Fig. 4, and is then compressed to cause the pins, spurs, or teeth to enter the material of the rule, as shown in Fig. 3. the tip is made to lie flush with the longitudinal top and bottom surfaces of the rule, and the points, spurs, or teeth thereof enter the rule at an inclination, as seen in Fig. 4, and are straightened as theyare forced home, thereby affording great holding power for retaining the tip in position, With its back 72" forced against and closely hugging the end of the rule, Without danger of splitting the end of the rule and without blemish of the surface of the tip, which is sometimes caused when tips are applied in the usual manner and secured by rivets or otherextraneous fastening devices to the ends of the rule.

In Fig. 8 my .improved tip is shown applied to a common form of rule Without a tenoned end, and it can readily be employed either with this form of rule or other common forms of rules or measures not herein illustrated or described. Usually these rules are made of Wood, and by providing the tip with a series of holding-points in line with each other when the same is compressed upon the end of the rule the tip is held with great security, and the pins or teeth act as reinforcements to the rule and prevent all danger of splitting or breaking the same.

Vhile each tip is herein shown equipped with points, spurs, or teeth of triangular shape, it is distinctly to be understood that my invention is not limited to such form, as

In this manner the body of other forms of teeth can readily be employed without departure therefrom.

When the tips are bent from the blank shown in Fig. 7 the walls thereof will iiare outwardly, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, thereby affording suiiicient room for the entrance of the end of the rule and enabling the desired pressure to be applied with great effect.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, with a rule, of a sheetmetal tip for capping the entire end of the same, said tip having a smooth and unobstructed end Wall, and smooth side Wall the edges of which have a series of downwardlyprojecting points which, when the tip is conlpressed upon the rule, enter the same and thereby retain the tip in position.

2. The combination, with a rule, of a sheetmetal tip of box-like form having a series of downwardly-projecting teeth, said tip capping the entire end of the rule, and the teeth thereof entering the said rule at an angle and causing the back of the tip to be drawn against the end of the rule when the tip is forced to position.

3. A sheet-metal tip for rules, having an end Wall and flaring side walls projecting therefrom, each side wall being provided with separated, downwardly-projecting teeth at its free edge which enter a rule at an angle and cause the back of the tip 'to be drawn against the end of the rule when the tip is forced to position thereon.

JUSTUS A. TRAUT.

Witnesses:

STANLEY PARKER, SADIE L. FINNIGAN. 

